Data Shows Summer End Dread is Real and so is the Need to “Rethink” the Daily Grind

Philadelphia, PA (September 1, 2015) – It is official -- summer is coming to a close. Gone are the summer days filled with outdoor festivals, beach vacations, neighborhood pool parties and fun-filled barbeques. Most working Americans acknowledge that the close of the Labor Day weekend symbolizes the return of the fall grind and new data confirms the struggle and stress many people at work have.

A recent national study commissioned by Mars Drinks indicates that the feeling of stress at the conclusion of the summer season is real for people at work. Much like students’ back-to-school preparation at this time of year, the data showed the importance of back-to-work preparation this Fall for adults.

Survey results found:

•4 out of 10 employed Americans feel extreme stress or dread about returning to work after the Labor Day holiday.

•When transitioning back to work in the fall, Americans use the following tactics to help them get organized:

◦25% clean out their email inbox.

◦20% start a new family morning routine.

◦20% block time on their calendars for planning and organization.

◦15 % schedule time with a manager to discuss priorities.

For more on the survey findings and additional information, visit: www.marsdrinks.com/rethink.

“Labor Day symbolizes the unofficial end of the summer season and for many of us, a return to a busier daily routine at home and increased activity at work,” said Xavier Unkovic, Mars Drinks’ global president. “However, back to work doesn’t have to be a stressful time. Business leaders and employees can implement small changes to their workday routines that help reduce stress and make life at work better.”

Mars Drinks offers tips to help American workers transition from summer, and jumpstart productivity heading into the fall.

Tips include:

•Get inspired.◦Maintain the activities that energize you outside of your work. Find a way to keep attending that yoga class even though the summer is over.

•Get organized.◦Clean out your email inbox. If you have non-critical items you haven’t gotten to, pitch them and get a clean start.

◦Reduce stress at work by organizing yourself the night before.

•Manage your time◦Book time for short breaks throughout the day. Even taking time for a cup of coffee between meetings will help you to relax and refresh.

◦Keep a longer term calendar of your projects so that when new requests emerge, you can determine what’s possible and communicate.

•Stay connected.◦You still have a few days of sunshine – take meetings outdoors if possible.

◦Keep up the volunteering – it’s a great way to stay connected to the things you love the most outside of work.

The poll was fielded as part of “Rethink The Daily Grind,” an initiative launched by Mars Drinks this year. The campaign is designed to drive dialogue and inspire organizations to bring more vitality to the workplace. Mars Drinks is a 100 percent workplace-dedicated segment of Mars, Incorporated which ranked 85th in the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, compiled by the Great Place to Work® Institute, for the third consecutive year.

For more information on Mars Drinks’ tips and “Rethink The Daily Grind” initiative or to secure ideas for taking action, please visit: http://www.marsdrinks.com/rethink.

ABOUT MARS DRINKS
Mars Drinks creates great tasting moments at work by being at the center of workplace engagement, collaboration, productivity and well-being. Throughout North America, Europe and Asia, Mars Drinks supports businesses who want to provide great working environments for their people. Part of Mars, Incorporated Mars Drinks focuses its energy and resources on the workplace, with the belief that people are the most important asset to any business. In 1973 Mars Drinks introduced KLIX® the first-ever fully automatic in-cup drinks vending machine that serves large manufacturing channels across Europe. In 1984 Mars Drinks pioneered the single serve hot drinks category, introducing FLAVIA®, the first system for making hot drinks using fresh ground coffee and leaf teas sealed in individual servings. Through its ALTERRA® Coffee Roasters coffees, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.® teas, and DOVE® Hot Chocolate, Mars Drinks creates more than 1 billion great tasting moments at work! Find Mars Drinks online at www.marsdrinks.com.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance. Mars, Incorporated is proud to have been ranked 85th in theFORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®list, compiled by theGreat Place to Work® Institute, for the third consecutive year.

ABOUT THE POLL

Findings featured are sourced from a Research Now poll conducted for Mars Drinks from July 30 – August 4, 2015. The survey results are based on a sample of 1000 Americans. The precision of the Research Now omnibus survey is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points for all adults and 2.5 percentage points for employed adults.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current employed population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.